Method and apparatus for performing surveys electronically over a network

A method for operating a survey business, said method comprising:

• (a) receiving a survey request form a survey requester;
• (b) producing a survey in an electronic format based on the survey request;
• (c) selecting a group of participants from a plurality of previously registered survey participants;
• (d) electronically distributing the survey in the electronic format to the group of participants;
• (e) electronically receiving responses to the survey from the group of participants;
• (f) generating an electronic survey report from the responses;
• and
• (g) electronically transmitting the electronic survey report to the survey requester.

A survey system coupled to a network, comprising:

• an active survey/response database for storing an active survey having survey questions and for storing responses to the survey questions by particular survey participants;
• a participants database for storing classification information on a plurality of participants;
• a survey manager for selecting a group of participants from said participants database, electronically distributing the active survey to the group of participants over the network, receiving responses to the survey questions of the survey over the network, and producing a survey report from the responses;
• and
• a network interface for coupling said survey manager to the network.